The battle over common-sense gun legislation is gearing up. Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline has filed a measure that would ban the sale, import, transfer or manufacture of semi-automatic and so-called assault weapons.
“These weapons of war have no place in our communities. They turn our streets, schools, grocery stores, movie theaters, hospitals, night clubs, festivals, and dance halls into bloody killing fields, and they are used to murder our children, friends, and neighbors – and the police officers trying to protect them,” said Congressman Cicilline. “Gun violence is not an incurable disease or natural disaster – it is preventable and a ban on assault weapons can and does save lives. There is no good reason why we have not reinstated this policy that will reduce the gun massacres being committed in our communities.”
The measure was filed Wednesday which starts Gun Violence Survivors Week.
The bill itself is not unfamiliar to Washington. A similar measure was introduced by the Congressman last session, and it passed in the House by a 217 to 213 vote.
“Assault weapons have been used to cause unspeakable harm in matters of seconds making them the weapon of choice for mass shooters,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “These weapons of war have no place in our communities and our grassroots gun violence prevention movement is grateful to Representative Cicilline for his steadfast leadership in putting our safety ahead of profits for the gun industry.”
“Assault weapons have been the weapons of choice for mass shooters since my neighbor used an AR-15 and high-capacity magazines to murder 20 children and six educators in Sandy Hook Elementary School over 10 years ago. More and more families and communities in every corner of America will be impacted by mass shootings and school shootings until Congress passes Representative Cicilline’s bill to stop arming mass shooters with weapons of war. President Biden has repeatedly signaled that he is ready to sign the bill into law,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance.
The actual schedule for the measure in Congress hasn't been released yet but is expected at any time.
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)